Okay, so I'm going to sound like a horrible mom. I know I'm freaking out and doing everything wrong, but Inara is making me lose my temper. She's 5 1/2 months old, and for a while was doing extremely well with her housetraining. However, over the past three weeks or so, she has begun peeing in the house again. Absolutely nothing has changed - her diet is the same, our routines are the same, etc. But pretty much daily she will pee on the floor, usually in another room (she's limited to two rooms by a baby gate), but tonight she came over to me, and peed right beside me. She had been letting us know she needs out by whining, but now we'll let her out, and 20 minutes later she'll pee on the floor, completely w/o warning. When she does so, I know I'm dealing with it completely wrongly, but I lose my temper so quickly now as it's happening so often. Normally I yell at her, grab her, and toss her outside on her tether while I clean it up. Sometimes I spank her once, if she does it right in front of me. When I bring her back in, I yell some more and throw her in her crate for about 10 minutes. When I let her back out, because I feel so badly I'll hug and cuddle her the rest of the night. I know I'm doing everything wrong - I shouldn't yell, definitely shouldn't hit her, and definitely shouldn't use the crate as punishment. Does anybody have any ideas for why she's suddenly peeing in the house again? Or what I can do about it short of letting her outside every 20 minutes? Or any ideas for keeping my temper (other than happy pills). When she pees, I clean it thoroughly to get the scent out. Sorry for rambling, but she just peed on the carpet right in front of me about 20 minutes ago and I'm still tinkled (no pun intended). Right now, Inara is curled up in my lap, snoring.

at that age they get major brain farts.. they seem to forget everything they learned. i went thru it here twice ... basically take a deep breath, and just start over again.. put her leash on her and tie her to your hip.. right after she eats, plays,sleeps take her outside to pee/poop and dont come back in until she does.. when she goes give her a huge party and praise.. keep doing this.. take her out every 20 minutes and refresh her memory that she has to go potty outside.. dont hit her or throw her in her crate. dont rub her nose in it either.. take a deep breath and happily say to her nap time and happily put her in her crate.. then clean up the mess.. if you catch her in the act, dont slap her or yell, say firmly no potty/pee pee or whatever you say and say no ________ in the house and gently escort her outside.. even if she doesnt have to go bring her out and keep her outside to see if she potties again.. if you keep her on leash attached to you she wont surprise you with accidents, its easier to grab a leash then a collar.. become more focused on her.. she might have changed her signal to you without you realizing it. does she sniff around or get antsy right before she potties?? also, when you take her outside stay there until she goes, and throw her a party right when she is done and say like good girl pee pee outside., or good girl potty outside..

its frustrating, but they get these brain farts at that age and forget everything

Not much advise, I've always been fourtunate enough to take mine with me to work as pups. Gives me plenty of oppurtunity to take them out when needed and pay special attention to the signs of wanting to go. Not to mention socialization, and in my free time teaching basics such as sit, come and lay down. Are you going outside with her to make sure she's going? She may just be outside playing? I've heard of tieing a bell to the door and teaching them to ring the bell when they need to go.

Otherwise, we all lose our temper once in a while. We're only human! Last night I had a screaming get the hell away from me fit that sent the cat scurrying, the kid running, and the dogs curling up in balls to get as far away from me as possible. Try your best to not lose your patience and remember she's still a puppy.

Maybe you should keep her in her crate longer and limit her area more? Take her out to if she doesn't go come back inside and put her back in her crate. Wait then take her out again... When she goes outside make a huge deal out of what a good girl she is, and maybe offer her a small treat.

Thank you for the advice - I guess we will have to go back to square one. I was thinking about confining her to just the one room like we did when we began the potty training, but with her being bigger now it's just not enough room for her to play. But, we shall go back to potty trips every 20 minutes or so. Grrr....so frustrating. *deep breath* At least with all the bad things I do I've never rubbed her nose in it...*sigh* I know that doesn't make my other horrid actions better, though.
Thanks again!

Jenn, I do go outside with her so I know she's going. I was actually contemplating tying a bell to the door - I know some people on here (can't remember who though...) have had some luck with that. I feel bad keeping her in her crate when I'm home - she has to spend overnight in it and then about 4-5 hours during the day in it, so I really like to let her out. However, I think I'll try your advice about putting her in there if she doesn't go potty when we go out. Thanks!

I'm really bored tonight and everything in the house is sleeping but me. Here are a few things I found that might help ya.

We train our puppies to "ring the bell" when they need to go out. You'll need a 3'-4' length of soft rope ( I spool knit my "rope" with Phentex and the kid's spool knitting kit)

Make a loop at one end that will fit over the door knob and tie a great big knobby knot on the other end, so that the puppy has something to grab on to.

Attach a group of little brass bells - available at dollar stores - above the knobby knot, so that they tinkle when the rope is shaken, then hang this "rope" over the door knob of the door going outside, so that it is low enough for the pup to reach.

When you are starting the housetraining, each time you go out the door, reach over and grab the rope so that the bells ring, and say, "time to do chores" or whatever word you have chosen.

Within a matter of hours or days, the puppy will be ringing the bells on his own.

(don't remember where I found that, sorry)

Most people do not recognize an important advantage of crate training. It does more than just stop the animal from messing in the house. It also teaches the puppy something very important. The puppy learns that when the urge to urinate or defecate occurs, he can hold it. Just because the pup feels like he needs to relieve himself, the pup learns that he does not have to. This is thought to be the main reason why puppies that have gone through crate training have fewer mistakes later on.

Thanks Jenn! I think I am going to try the bell thing - worst case scenario, we'll have a festive sound when people come and go. Best case scenario, I'll find out I've got a genius puppy with musical talents. Seriously though, I do appreciate your assistance. I read that other article, and it made complete sense. I really think we're just gonna have to return to square 1, with extremely frequent potty trips. I hate that I lose my temper with her - it kills me to see her tuck her tail and try to hide. Thanks again!

This happened only once with pee and once with poo around the same age. The pee I heard whine but by the time I got there he had done a small pee I put him out right away and he finished on the deck. The poo he was at the door and I cought him in the act. I firmly said no Stop and he did. I then put him outside. That was the last time. They have to be right with you when they have these problems so you can catch them in the act. Of course you know no hitting or rubbing nose in it. Just a firm No Or Stop only if caught in the act. Then after finishing outside make a big deal. We got Rocky at 4 months from shelter and when he went outside a made a big deal every time he went to the bathroom. I would say good outside yeahhh and give a treat everytime he came in. Being from a shelter I got luck since he did great with going outside. He also hated to be outside. TOOO COLD! So I recommend go outside with her make a big deal like it is the best thing that ever happened every time she goes. Yeahhh Pee pee or what ever you like to call it. And Yeahhh business yeahhh. Pets and love. Worked wonders for me. Good Luck

My Sacha was doing that until she was nearly 10 months old. When I took her to the new trainer, he suggested when I clean it up, put her in a down stay near where I'm cleaning, then say in a really disappointed tone "I can't believe you have me down here on the floor cleaning up your mess." Etc...sounds ridiculous, but really worked wonders!!!!

Now see, I've read elsewhere that you're supposed to make sure your dogs NEVER see you cleaning up their mess. Something about how you don't want them thinking you're their personal house-servant...I don't know! She's been better the last couple days. I've been the "outside" nazi - we're going out constantly, to the point where she looks at me like "good god mother, it's only been a few minutes! Give me some time to work something up!"

pitbullmamaliz wrote:Now see, I've read elsewhere that you're supposed to make sure your dogs NEVER see you cleaning up their mess. Something about how you don't want them thinking you're their personal house-servant...I don't know!

It worked on Sacha....and I actually had to use it on my puppy the other day...she looked like her heart was breaking as I was talking to her in a disappointed tone...she has been the poster child of sweetness since...

msvette2u wrote:On another forum it is recommended to "scold the accident".

NO! That only confuses the puppy & makes her think the actual act of peeing is what she is doing wrong......then they begin to hide it from you. She's being scolded now & it isn't helping. I think acting disappointed in them would only work on some dogs. Munkee crumbles when I get a disapproving tone to my voice or look on my face. Justice flips me off.

There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.

Did you ever try the bell? I tried it a few days ago. Tucker has been given more and more access to the house, since I've not had any problems with him in the house. Of course, he decided to take a poo right in front of the door! Other than looking at you, and dancing around like a maniac ~ I couldn't seem to have him let me "KNOW".. So I thought, I'll try the bell maybe he was trying and no one was paying attention? UMMMM bad idea!! He caught right on, that the bell opens the door. Good right? Not for me, he constantly rings the bell! He rings the bell when he just came back in. Acts like it's a game, ring the bell I get to go outside, I get a treat. I'm going to have to try something else, this will drive me nuts.

Ben sits right in front of it and stares or whines, Maddie will scratch.. Tucker just takes a poo right in front of it, and plays with the bell..

No I haven't tried it. She was just going through a crazy phase I think. Pretty soon after I wrote that email she stopped going in the house... I won't complain! Generally I know she needs outside if she comes over and just stares at me unblinking.